5 tips for traveling safely during hurricane season

Discover our top five tips for traveling safely during hurricane season to help you plan ahead and make smarter travel decisions:

Safety tip #1: Learn when hurricanes are most likely to occur

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricane season for the Atlantic is June to November, and for the Northeastern Pacific, it's May to November. Knowing these dates can help you plan your trip either outside of these times or plan your trip with hurricane safety in mind. 

Safety tip #2: Learn where hurricanes are most likely to occur

You may be wondering about safe places to travel during hurricane season given it’s such a popular time of year for Americans to travel. There are many areas where hurricanes can form, but you should use extra caution if traveling to areas in the Atlantic Basin, Eastern Pacific, or Western Pacific — or avoid traveling to these areas altogether during hurricane season.

Safety tip #3: Familiarize yourself with hurricane safety advice

Before a hurricane approaches, it’s important to know your destination’s evacuation routes. Don’t forget to research what to do in the event of a hurricane before you arrive at your destination.

It’s also helpful to prepare a disaster kit to take with you on your vacation, packed with things like a first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothing, canned food, and bottled water.

If you’re traveling during hurricane season, you can use AccuWeather’s hurricane tracker to keep track of hurricane activity across the United States.

If a hurricane does occur on your trip, it’s important to avoid flood-prone areas and stick to higher ground when possible. Many hotels in hurricane-prone regions have processes in place to keep their guests safe. If you have any questions, you can consult your hotel’s staff.

After a hurricane, it’s important to remain indoors, avoid tap water, and stay away from standing water until the proper personnel have deemed it safe.

Safety tip #4: Opt for a cruise vacation instead of a land vacation

If you’re looking for a tropical getaway during hurricane season, a cruise can be a great option. Most cruise liners can and will adjust course based on a storm and detour to different ports, which can sometimes mean you’ll be safer at sea than on land.

If you want to avoid hurricane hotspots entirely, consider researching the best places to travel during hurricane season and choose a destination with a low likelihood of major storms.

Safety tip #5: Consider purchasing travel insurance

At Travelex, our Ultimate, Advantage, and Essential plans offer coverage for trip cancellation and interruption and travel delay resulting from a hurricane.

Our trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can provide coverage if your home or destination is made uninhabitable or inaccessible by a hurricane.

Our travel delay benefit can provide coverage if a named storm causes your trip to be delayed for at least five consecutive hours (six with our Essential plan).

Please note: Coverage doesn’t apply — and claims won’t be paid — if the hurricane becomes a named storm prior to buying travel insurance.

For trip cancellation and travel delay, your accommodation must be uninhabitable or inaccessible:

• On your scheduled departure date
• For a minimum of 24 hours
• No more than 21 days before your scheduled departure

For trip interruption coverage to apply:

• Your accommodation must be uninhabitable or inaccessible for at least 24 hours.
• You must have two days, 25%, or more remaining on your trip at the time your accommodation becomes uninhabitable or inaccessible.

Want more information on our hurricane coverage? Check out our article on hurricane travel insurance.

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